Amazon has released yet another Kindle software update, and so far it’s only available for the 10th generation Kindle Oasis, which is rather odd.
Amazon usually updates all 10th and 11th gen Kindles at the same time, and the Kindle Scribe is usually updated concurrently as well, but the Scribe was left out of the last round of updates, and now only the Kindle Oasis is getting this latest update for some reason.
The new software version is 5.16.21.0.2. The release notes don’t give any specific details, like usual, and the update erroneously has an August release date instead of September, so who knows what the update actually does.
The only thing that really differentiates the Kindle Oasis from other Kindles is the fact that it has page buttons. But I haven’t heard any complaints about problems with the buttons or anything else specific to the Oasis since the last update was released.
I think all these recent Kindle software updates have something to do with Amazon releasing new Kindles soon. They’re probably trying to get the software ready for some new models with some new hardware and new software features, and Amazon always likes to keep updating previous gen models when newer versions come out instead of just leaving them alone.
If you have a Kindle Oasis 3 and want to try the new software, you can download it from the Kindle eReader Software Updates page at Amazon. Or you can just wait for the update to automatically download and install on its own at some point in the future.
At least the last 5.16.21 update seems to have fixed most of the bugs that were reported since the previous update, but apparently the Kindle Oasis had something else that needed fixed that didn’t affect other Kindles. It seems odd, but Kindle updates have been mysterious lately, and the version numbers keep getting weirder each time. Something is up.
I’m wondering whether they are simply trying to kill these devices to push their owners to upgrade. I won’t be surprised if we’ll see reports of these devices becoming extremely slow or doing other weird stuff right after Amazon releases the new models.
I really doubt that. Their income isn’t from ereaders but from books they sell through those. So they make readers that last for years. Selling people new devices brings them nothing. On the contrary… making people mad about faulty products would only push more people towards Kobo.
It’s the same thing as with gaming consoles, these devices are made to last and make money through content. And it’s kinda sad to see how some devices last people a decade while other devices are built to become obsolete or to fully break down in just two or three years.
I’m glad they did not include an update for the scribe, given the problems I had with the PW5 and my basic 10th gen. Mainly with voiceview and the delay with the menu bar. I seriously doubt that Amazon is trying to kill their product line. That makes no sense. Why some people jump on such suspicions is quite curious.
Maybe an indication there’s something new with page turn buttons on the horizon?
Do some digging, asking around, what is Amazon/Kindle up to?